EFFECT OF OCCUPATIONAL STRESS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF EMPLOYEES

A CASE STUDY OF PRISONS OFFICER'S

LECTURER: MS JOSEPHINE NDUNGU.

NAME: NICHOLAS MWENDA GITONGA.

REGISTRATION NO: L14S/I0447/2007

PROJECT PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO SCHOOL OF CONTINUOUS AND

DISTANCE EDUCATION DIPLOMA IN GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING

UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI

DECLARA TION

STUDENTS' DECLARATION

This research project is my original work and has not been presented to any other examination

body. No part of this research should be reproduced without my consent or that of University of

Nairobi.

Name:

Signed: Signed __ --'~~-= .. Date ~

DECLARATION BY THE SUPERVISOR

This research has been submitted with my approval at University Of Nairobi.

Name Sign / ~ Date ~ 1t~L(For and on behalf of University Of Nairobi.

ABSTRACT

Stress is the unpleasant state of emotion and physiological arousal that people experience in

situations that they perceive as dangerous or threatening. In every organization and at every level

of management and workers an elevated average level of stress is to be found which mostly has

an effect on employee's job satisfaction and overall performance.

Stress has become major problem for employer part5icularly in developing nations where the

employer doesn't realize the impact of stress on employee performance, resulting on high portion

of absence, interdictions and loss of employment.

Kenya Prisons Service has a core function of keeping safe custody to all prisoners placed under

its care, to rehabilitate and reformation of prisoners for social re-integration, facilitation of

Administration of justice, containing and rehabilitating Young Offenders in Borstal Institutions

and Youth Corrective Training Centre and provision of care for children aged below 4 years

accompanying their mothers to prison.

According to a recent Prisons Department report, the collections have declined by about 10,000

million this being exacerbated by events which altered the status quo, such as stress and low

employee morale.

This research was conducted 111 Prisons 111 three pnsons within Nairobi and the Prisons

Headquarters.

Over past few decades stress has emerged as an increasing problem in organization/Institutions#

stress exists in organization/Institutions either big or small, non- government one. Workplace

stress has significant effects over the employee's job performance and organizations are trying to

cope with scenario. Today, occupational (Job, work or workplace) stress has become one of the

most serious Health issues in modern world, as it occurs in any job and is even more present now

than decades ago. Just as stress differs as a function of the individual, it also differs as a function

of one's type of occupation and therefore affects productivity levels differently.

Lately, there is a problematic increase in cases of occupational stress related problems among

employees in the Kenya Prisons Department, which have led to declining interest in their jobs,

les commitment and growing impatience among the prison officers. The prison officer play a

very vital and important role in the society, dealing with all types of criminals who are initially